The Daily MuckA Senate investigation reveals that the Department of Defense used military psychologists to devise aggressive interrogation techniques to be used on detainees suspected of terrorism. Legal experts within the military warned department officials of the illegality of such tactics before they were approved. The defense lawyers spoke to investigators anonymously, as the information has yet to see an official release. (Associated Press)
As wars in Iraq and Afghanistan plod along, the role of inspector generals has increased. The FY08 defense bill created new oversight positions, in addition to the existing standards, as more and more responsibility (and disagreements over jurisdiction) is handed to the government monitoring agencies. (CongressDaily)
The Department of Defense inspector general’s investigation of the 2005 killing of Reuters employee Waleed Khaled by U.S. soldiers who fired on his car in response to what they thought was a threat concluded that the soldiers acted properly. The decision comes after crucial video evidence in the case went missing. (Reuters)
Negotiations regarding the U.S. military presence in Iraq reached a standstill as Iraqi officials refused to grant defense contractors immunity from local law, as the U.S. government requested. Now Al Jazeera reports that an Iraqi foreign minister said Monday that the U.S. has accepted the Iraqi government’s demand for no immunity. (Al Jazeera)
A U.S. district judge has ruled that the White House does not have to divulge internal documents and e-mails that circulated during the run-up to the war in Iraq. (Washington Post)
Lawyers for Texas death row inmate Charles Hood claimed the judge and prosecutor involved in his 1990 double murder case were having an affair, and such a relationship should warrant a stay of execution. But a Texas Court of Criminal Appeals struck down the request Monday, saying the alleged affair was simply based on rumors. (New York Times)
Former Boeing scientist Abraham Lesnik pleaded guilty Monday to illegally retaining classified national defense information. He faces a possible ten years in prison for the offense. (USA Today)
Defense contractor Blackwater Worldwide, looking to expand their operations, were denied clearance to build training facilities in Northern Idaho by the Idaho Peace Officer Standards and Training Council. Council members did not explicitly suggest Blackwater’s chances were null, but said more information is needed to make a final decision. (Associated Press)
